Lucas Perri’s First Brazil Call-Up: From Botafogo Standout to World Cup Dreams

Lucas Perri’s Journey: From Botafogo Breakout to Brazil Duty

Some football careers take off out of nowhere—you blink, and suddenly, a new face is saving everything in sight. That’s been the story for Lucas Perri. In August 2023, the 25-year-old goalkeeper finally landed his first senior call-up to Brazil’s national team for the World Cup qualifiers. This wasn’t one of those feel-good stories handed out for sentimental value; it was the result of months of impeccable form between the posts for Botafogo.

Let’s rewind a bit. Perri didn’t start as Botafogo’s main man. In fact, he got his break when the established number one, Gatito Fernández, went down injured. Perri stepped up and made it impossible for the coaching staff to look anywhere else. After joining Botafogo in August 2022, he racked up 50 appearances across all competitions in little over a year. The numbers? Stellar. He managed 31 clean sheets—numbers you’d expect from seasoned European giants, not a new arrival in the Brasileirão.

Perri’s confidence in goal quickly became obvious. During the 2023 season alone, he featured in 67 matches, pulling off game-changing saves and even standing tall when facing penalties—a weakness for many keepers. No surprise his rise caught national coaches’ eyes just as Brazil needed reliable alternatives between the sticks for their World Cup push.

Challenges, Youth Glory, and a Move to France

If you’re thinking things always went smooth for Perri, think again. His early days at São Paulo were tough. Stuck behind first-choice keeper Tiago Volpi, Perri barely sniffed game time. A loan move to England’s Crystal Palace in 2019 seemed promising, but it fizzled out with zero competitive appearances. It wasn’t until Botafogo came knocking that Perri started to show what he could do. He dodged bad luck and even managed to jump ahead of more senior keepers with simple consistency.

Digging into his past, you’ll find Perri’s first brush with the national stage happened early—representing Brazil at the U-20 level. He was never just a passenger either. Perri famously saved a penalty in a big win over Uruguay, then shut out Liverpool Montevideo in the U-20 Copa Libertadores final in 2016, helping Brazil’s youth lift the title. Small moments that hinted at a bigger career waiting to happen.

His clean sheets and highlight saves in black and white meant it was only a matter of time before European clubs started calling. That call came from France in January 2024 when Olympique Lyonnais forked out €3.25 million for his signature. Perri didn’t waste time there either—he quickly claimed a starting spot and in a Coupe de France game, pulled off more of his trademark penalty heroics to help Lyon edge out Strasbourg.

Perri’s story isn’t just about one good season or a lucky break. It’s about resilience—the kind that comes from tough times on the bench, bouncing back from failed moves, and grabbing your chance with both hands when it finally arrives. For goalkeepers, the waiting game is often long and brutal. But for Lucas Perri, it was worth every minute.